Of course it has, but we’ve been telling you that for years.
Now, it seems that others are starting to recognize it as well. Late last week, the Houston Chronicle ran a column agreeing with what we’ve been telling you. In it, the writer noted:
In Texas, we’re learning what happens when you can’t turn to a lawyer for help. Two strong forces are making it nearly impossible to seek redress for injury in state courts: sweeping tort reform laws and a Texas Supreme Court with an activist conservative bent. The results aren’t pretty.
The article notes that the two-pronged tort reform attack are killing 7th amendment rights to trial by jury.
And it’s not just a problem that plaintiff’s lawyers are talking about. Law professors and even tea-party leaders are starting to be concerned. (I’ve actually written about both of these issues — including the same studies mentioned — for years. See Judicial Tort Reform In Texas, The Vanishing Jury Trial and the Texas Supreme Court, The Vanishing Jury Trial Part 2, and A Tea Party Leader on Tort Reform. )
I wish I had time to write more about it, but I’m preparing for a trial. But you can rest assured that with a new legislative session convening relatively soon, tort reform advocates will be at it again trying to take away more and more of your rights. I hope you’ll stand up and protect yourself.
